Identify Main Idea and Details


How to Identify the Main Idea


*Identify the TopicLook for clues to find out what the passage is mostly about.


*Read for the Main Idea Details upon the writer's topic and look for details that support it. Use these to create a Main Idea and Details Diagram for each section.


*Sum Up the Information Review all of your diagrams. Then decide upon one main idea for the entire passage.

*Think Beyond the Text Ask yourself "What have I learned?"